Washing machine

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a washing machine having an improved structure to electrically connect electronic parts inside the door to electronic parts inside the cabinet. The washing machine includes a cabinet equipped with a first electronic part therein and having an opening to put in laundry, a door equipped with a second electronic part therein and configured to open or close the opening, a hinge assembly configured to pivotally combine the door with the cabinet and a wire configured to pass the hinge assembly to electrically connect the first electronic part and the second electronic part.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority under 35 U. S. C. § 365 and is a371 National Stage of International Application No. PCT/KR2016/007673,filed Jul. 14, 2016, which claims the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0103626, filed Jul. 22, 2015, the disclosures ofwhich are fully incorporated herein by reference into the presentdisclosure as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and moreparticularly, to a washing machine having an improved structure toelectrically connect electronic parts inside the door to electronicparts inside the cabinet.

BACKGROUND

Washing machines are devices for washing laundry by rotating itscylindrical rotating tub that contains the laundry and water. As fortypes of the washing machine, there are drum washers in which a rotatingtub is horizontally located and laundry is washed by being raised andfalling along the inner wall of the rotating tub while the rotating tubis rotated clockwise/counterclockwise around the horizontal axis, andvertical axis washers in which a rotating tub having a pulsator thereinis vertically located and laundry is washed using water currentsproduced by the pulsator while the rotating tub is rotatedclockwise/counterclockwise along the vertical axis.

The drum washer includes a cabinet that constitutes the exterior, acylindrical tub installed inside the cabinet for containing laundrywater, a drum rotationally installed in the tub for washing laundry, adriving motor arranged in the back of the tube for turning the drum, anda door installed on the front of the cabinet. The cabinet has an openinglinked to the drum, and the door may open or close the opening.

In general, electric parts are placed inside the cabinet. Therefore, inthe process of electrically connecting the electronic parts placedinside the cabinet, wires are rarely exposed to the outside. However, asdesigns of the washing machine changes, the electronic parts placedinside the cabinet and the electronic parts placed outside the cabinetsometimes have to be connected by wires.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a washing machine having animproved structure to connect electronic parts in the door andelectronic parts in the cabinet using wires without harming theaesthetic appearance of the washing machine.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a washing machinehaving an improved structure to electrically connect electronic parts inthe door and electronic parts in the cabinet using wires passing a hingeassembly.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washingmachine may include a cabinet equipped with a first electronic parttherein and having an opening to put in laundry, a door equipped with asecond electronic part therein and configured to open or close theopening, a hinge assembly configured to pivotally combine the door withthe cabinet and a wire configured to pass the hinge assembly toelectrically connect the first electronic part and the second electronicpart.

The wire may be configured to penetrate the hinge assembly to connectthe first electronic part and the second electronic part.

The door may further include a back plane facing the opening and havinga through hole, and one end of the wire is connected to the secondelectronic part and the other end of the wire is connected to the firstelectronic part after passing the through hole and the hinge assembly.

The hinge assembly may include a first bracket coupled to the cabinet, asecond bracket coupled to the door and a link unit configured topivotally connect the first bracket and the second bracket. The wire maybe configured to pass through the link unit to connect the firstelectronic part and the second electronic part.

The link unit may include a wire guide recessed along a side of the linkunit for the wire to be inserted thereto.

The link unit may further include a link unit cover detachably coupledto the wire guide to prevent foreign materials from being brought intothe wire guide.

The link unit cover may have a recessed part formed on one side, and therecessed part is configured to form a wire receiver to receive the wirewith the wire guide once the link unit cover is coupled to the wireguide.

The door may further include a back plane facing the opening and havinga through hole. The link unit may further include a wire inlet locatedadjacent to the second bracket for the wire to be inserted to the wireguide after passing the through hole.

The link unit cover may be coupled to the wire guide such that a portionof the wire guide adjacent to the second bracket is opened. The wireinlet may be formed in the opened portion of the wire guide.

The link unit may further include a wire outlet formed on a side of thelink unit cover adjacent to the first bracket and provided to pull outthe wire inserted to the wire guide.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the washingmachine may further include a protective member coupled to at least oneof the wire inlet and the wire outlet while enclosing the wire toprevent snapping of the wire.

The protective member may have an elastic material.

The door may have a laundry inlet formed thereon to communicate with theopening. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, thewashing machine may further include a secondary door installed to openor close the laundry inlet.

The second electronic part may include at least one of an open/closedetection sensor configured to detect whether the secondary door isopened or closed and a door lock switch configured to control whether tolock the secondary door.

The hinge assembly may include a first shaft configured to connect thefirst bracket and an end of the link unit and a second shaft configuredto connect the second bracket and another end of the link unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washingmachine may include a cabinet forming the exterior and having an openingto put in laundry, a door provided to open or close the opening, a hingeassembly configured to pivotally combine the door to the cabinet, asecondary door provided to open or close a laundry inlet formed in aportion of the door to throw laundry into the cabinet while the openingis closed by the door, a door lock switch configured to control whetherto lock the secondary door, and a wire electrically connected to thedoor lock switch. The hinge assembly may include a link unit coupled toa first shaft and a second shaft at either end, and the wire may bearranged along at least a portion of the link unit.

The wire may be arranged between the first shaft and the second shaft.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the washingmachine may further include a wire guide formed in the link unit suchthat the wire may be arranged along a portion of the link unit.

The hinge assembly may include a first bracket coupled to one end of thelink unit by the first shaft and a second bracket coupled to the otherend of the link unit by the second shaft, and the first and secondbrackets may be coupled to the cabinet and the door, respectively.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the washingmachine may further include a link unit cover detachably coupled to thelink unit such that the wire is arranged between the link unit cover andthe link unit.

In the process of connecting electronic parts in the door and electronicparts in the cabinet by wires, significant exposure of the wires to theoutside may be prevented by making the wires pass through a hingeassembly.

The wire may pass the hinge assembly in a convenient and easy manner byinserting the wires to a wire guide formed in a link unit.

Combining a link unit cover with the wire guide may prevent foreignmaterials from being brought into the wire guide.

Using the link unit cover to be detachably combined with the wire guidemay perform the work of inserting the wire to the wire guide with thelink unit cover removed, thereby improving the working efficiency, andmay combine the link unit cover with the wire guide once the wire isinserted to the wire guide, thereby allowing the wire to be stablyreceived in the wire receiving space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a washing machine with the door open,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a washing machine with a secondary dooropen, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a state of wire connection in a washingmachine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A schematically shows a state of wire connection in a washingmachine viewed from the front of the front frame, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B schematically shows a state of wire connection in a washingmachine viewed from the back of the front frame, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a hinge assembly-coupled structure of a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a hinge assembly of a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the hinge assembly of the washing machineangled differently from that of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a process of coupling a hinge assembly and a cabinet of awashing machine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows wires inserted to a hinge assembly in a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 shows wires passing a through hole of the door of a washingmachine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a hinge assembly of a washing machine,according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to the like elements throughout. The terms “front”,“rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”, and “bottom” as herein used are definedwith respect to the drawings, but the terms may not restrict the shapeand position of the respective components.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is aperspective view of a washing machine with the door open, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofa washing machine with a secondary door open, according to an embodimentof the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the term coupling member may beused to encompass a hinge assembly 100. That is, the coupling member isany element that combines a door 20 with a cabinet 10 and is not limitedto the hinge assembly 100. In this regard, a wire 300 may pass thecoupling member to electrically connect a first electronic part and asecond electronic part.

The electronic parts refer to electric and electronic parts that workwith power supplied thereto. Furthermore, the electronic parts may alsomean to include a power supply device. The electronic parts may includethe first and second electronic parts, which will be described in detaillater.

As shown in FIG. 1 to 3, a washing machine 1 may include the cabinet 10that forms the exterior of the washing machine 1. The cabinet 10 mayinclude a front frame 11 forming the front exterior of the washingmachine 1, a top frame 12 forming the top exterior of the washingmachine 1, side frames 13 forming the side exterior of the washingmachine, a bottom frame (not shown) forming the bottom exterior of thewashing machine, and a rear frame (not shown) forming the rear exteriorof the washing machine.

The washing machine 1 may further include a tub (not shown). The tub maybe installed inside the cabinet 10 to store laundry water.

The washing machine 1 may further include a drum 15. The drum 15 may berotationally installed inside the tub. There may be many dehydrationballs 15 a formed on the wall of the drum 15. The drum 15 may be shapedlike a cylinder. An opening may be formed on the front side of the drum15 for entrance and exit of laundry.

The washing machine 1 may further include the door 20. An opening 16 maybe formed on the front frame 11 to put in or pull out the laundry. Thedoor 20 may be provided to open or close the opening 16. Specifically,the door 20 may be pivotally installed on the front frame 11 of thecabinet 10 to open or close the opening 16.

The front frame 11 of the cabinet 10 may be equipped with a door contact17 to come into contact with the door 20 when the door 20 shuts theopening 16. The door contact 17 may be concavely formed toward the innerside of the washing machine 1 along the border of the opening 16.

Furthermore, the door contact 17 may be formed to correspond to theshape of the door 20. Accordingly, when the door 20 is shut, theaesthetic appearance may be improved by minimizing protruding parts fromthe surface of the cabinet 10.

A hinge assembly installation part 19 may be provided on a side of thedoor contact 17 for installing the hinge assembly 100 which will bedescribed later.

The washing machine 1 may further include a water supply tube (notshown) and a detergent container 18. The water supply tube may beinstalled above the tub to supply laundry water into the tub. One end ofthe water supply tube may be connected to a water supply valve (notshown) and the other end of the water supply tube may be connected tothe detergent container 18.

The detergent container 18 is connected to the drum 15 through aconnecting tube (not shown), and the water supplied through the watersupply tube is supplied into the drum 15 together with the detergent bypassing through the detergent container 18.

The washing machine 1 may further include a driving motor (not shown).The driving motor may be provided in the back of the drum 15 to drivethe drum 15.

The washing machine 1 may further include a drain unit (not shown). Thedrain unit may be placed in a lower portion of the cabinet 10 to drainthe laundry water out of the washing machine 1. The drain unit mayinclude a drain pump (not shown), a connecting hose (not shown) toconnect the tub and the drain pump for the water inside the tub to flowinto the drain pump, and a drain hose (not shown) to guide the waterpumped by the drain pump to the outside of the washing machine 1.

The washing machine 1 may further include a control panel 50. Thecontrol panel 50 may be arranged in an upper portion of the front frame11 of the cabinet 10. The control panel 50 may include a display window51 to display an operating condition of the washing machine 1 and anoperator 52 provided for the user to control the operating condition ofthe washing machine 1.

The door 20 may include a door frame 21 and a door glass 22. The doorframe 21 may be provided to form the exterior of the door 20. The doorglass 22 may be combined with the back of the door frame 21 to beinserted to the inner side of the opening 16 of the cabinet 10. The doorglass 22 may be formed for the user to look into the drum 15 to checkthe laundry course with his/her naked eyes. It is preferable that thedoor glass 22 has a form that protrudes toward the back of the cabinet10.

The washing machine 1 may further include the hinge assembly 100. Thehinge assembly 100 may combine the door 20 and the cabinet 10. In otherwords, the hinge assembly 100 may enable the door 20 to be pivotallycombined with the cabinet 10. The hinge assembly 100 will be describedin more detail later.

The washing machine 1 may further include a secondary door 80. Thesecondary door 80 may be opened and shut separately from the door 20.Specifically, the secondary door 80 may be pivotally installed on thedoor 20 to be opened and shut separately from the door 20. The user mayuse the secondary door 80 to freely open or close part of the opening16. In other words, a laundry inlet 82 may be formed in the door 20 toput in the laundry. The laundry inlet 82 may be formed to communicatewith the opening 16. The laundry inlet 82 may be formed in a portion ofthe door 20 to put the laundry into the cabinet 10 while the opening 16is shut by the door 20. The secondary door 80 may be provided to open orclose the laundry inlet 82. Specifically, the secondary door 80 may bepivotally installed on the front of the door 20 to open or close thelaundry inlet 82.

A side of the secondary door 80 may be hinged with the door 20. If theleft or right side of the secondary door 80 is hinged with the door 20,the secondary door 80 may be opened and shut to the left or right. Ifthe top or bottom side of the secondary door 80 is hinged with the door20, the secondary door 80 may be opened and shut upwards or downwards.Preferably, the bottom side of the secondary door 80 may be hinged withthe door 20 to open or close the secondary door 80 downwards.

A locking part 81 may be formed on the other side of the secondary door80. The locking part 81 of the secondary door 80 may be detachablyinserted to a fixing hole (not shown) formed in the door 20.Specifically, when the locking part 81 of the secondary door 80 isinserted to the fixing hole of the door 20, the secondary door 80remains shut, and when the locking part 81 of the secondary door 80 isseparated from the fixing hole of the door 20, the secondary door 80remains opened.

The washing machine 1 may further include a first electronic part (notshown) included in the cabinet 10.

The washing machine 1 may further include a second electronic partprovided outside the cabinet 10. For example, as for the locations wherethe second electronic part is placed, the second electronic part may beequipped in the door 20. The second electronic part may include at leastone of an open/close detection sensor 210 for detecting whether thesecondary door 80 is opened or shut and a door lock switch 220 forcontrolling whether to lock the secondary door 80. The types of thesecond electronic part are not, however, limited to what is related toopening or closing operations of the secondary door 80.

The washing machine 1 may further include a wire 300 for connecting thefirst and second electronic parts (see FIG. 5A). The wire 300 mayelectrically connect the first and second electronic parts. The wire 300will be described in more detail later.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a state of wire connection in a washingmachine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. To helpunderstanding of the present disclosure, the wire 300 placed inside thewashing machine 1 is shown in a solid line in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wire 300 may electrically connect the first andsecond electronic parts.

The first electronic part may include, for example, a main printedcircuit board (main PCB) 800, a sub PCB (not shown), a water supplyvalve (not shown), a driving motor (not shown), a power supply device(not shown), etc. The main PCB 800 may be placed inside the controlpanel 50. The main PCB 800 may control operating conditions of amicrocomputer, the water supply valve, the driving motor, etc.Furthermore, the main PCB 800 may control operating conditions of thesecond electronic part. The sub PCB may be placed with the main PCB 800inside the control panel 50. The sub PCB may control operatingconditions of the display window 51, the operator 52, etc., arranged onthe control panel 50. The main PCB 800 and the sub PCB are locatedanywhere inside the cabinet 10 and are not exclusively located insidethe control panel 50. As an example of the first electronic part, themain PCB 800 will be focused in the following description.

As described above, the second electronic part may include at least oneof the open/close detection sensor 210 for detecting whether thesecondary door 80 is opened or shut and the door lock switch 220 forcontrolling whether to lock the secondary door 80. The types of thesecond electronic parts are not, however, limited to what is related toopening or closing operations of the secondary door 80. As an example ofthe second electronic part, the open/close detection sensor 210 and thedoor lock switch 220 of the secondary door 80 will be focused in thefollowing description. Operating conditions of the open/close detectionsensor 210 and the door lock switch 220 may be controlled by the mainPCB 800.

The wire 300 may include a first wire 310, a second wire 320, and a mainwire harness 330. The first wire 310 may connect the open/closedetection sensor 210 and the door lock switch 220, which are arranged inthe door 20. The first wire 310 may be connected to the second wire 320.Specifically, the first wire 310 and the second wire 320 may beelectrically connected by combination of a connector 311 formed at oneend of the first wire 310 and a first connector 321 formed at one end ofthe second wire 320. The combination of the connector 311 of the firstwire 310 and the first connector 321 of the second wire 320 may be madein the door 20. The second wire 320 connected to the first wire 310 maybe brought into the cabinet 10 after passing or passing through thehinge assembly 100. The second wire 320 brought into the cabinet 10 maybe arranged along the lower edge of the cabinet 10. A second connector322 formed at the other end of the second wire 320 is combined with aconnector 331 of the main wire harness 330 located along an edge of thecabinet 10. The main wire harness 330 is connected to the main PCB 800placed inside the control panel 50. In other words, the first wire 310,the second wire 320, and the main wire harness 330 may electricallyconnect the open/close detection sensor 210, the door lock switch 220,and the main PCB 800. The case where the main wire harness 330 isconnected to the main PCB 800 was focused in the above description, butthe main wire harness 330 may be connected to at least one of the firstelectronic parts.

FIG. 5A schematically shows a state of wire connection in a washingmachine viewed from the front of the front frame, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5B schematically shows astate of wire connection in a washing machine viewed from the back ofthe front frame, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Specifically, FIG. 5A shows the front of the front frame 11 with thedoor 20 and the secondary door 80 shut, and FIG. 5B shows the back ofthe front frame 11 with the door 20 and the secondary door 80 shut. FIG.5A is an example of the second electronic part equipped in the door 20,illustrating the open/close detection sensor 210 of the secondary door80 and the door lock switch 220 of the secondary door 80.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the wire 300 may connect the first andsecond electronic parts. Specifically, the wire 300 may pass the hingeassembly 100 to connect the first and second electronic parts. In otherwords, the wire 300 may penetrate the hinge assembly 100 to connect thefirst and second electronic parts.

In the process of connecting the first and second electronic parts, atleast a part of the wire 300 may be arranged along the circumferentialdirection of the door 20. For example, at least a part of the wire 300placed in the door 20 may be arranged along the circumferentialdirection of the door 20.

Furthermore, the wire 300 may be arranged between a first shaft 140 (seeFIG. 7) and a second shaft 150 (see FIG. 7) in the process of passingthe hinge assembly 100.

The second electronic part may be placed in the door 20. Specifically,the second electronic part may be provided in the door frame 21. Forexample, the second electronic part may be equipped in the door 20 to beadjacent to the fixing hole of the door 20 into which the locking part81 of the secondary door 80 is inserted. The open/close detection sensor210 and the door lock switch 220 may be arranged in the door frame 21 toface each other with the fixing hole between them. The open/closedetection sensor 210 and the door lock switch 220 may be placed on aninner side of the door frame 21 corresponding to one side of thesecondary door 80 facing the other side of the secondary door 80 hingedwith the door 20. For example, in a case that the bottom side of thesecondary door 80 is hinged with the door 20, the open/close detectionsensor 210 and the door lock switch 220 may be placed on an inner sideof the door frame 21 corresponding to the top side of the secondary door80.

The door 20 may further include a through hole 23 (see FIG. 11). Thethrough hole 23 may be formed on the back of the door 20 facing theopening 16. In other words, the through hole 23 may be formed on theback of the door frame 21 facing the opening 16.

The wire 300 connected to the open/close detection sensor 210 and thedoor lock switch 220 passes the through hole 23 to reach the hingeassembly 100, and the wire 300 that reaches the hinge assembly 100passes the hinge assembly 100 to be connected to the first electronicpart equipped in the cabinet 10. In other words, one end of the wire 300may be connected to the open/close detection sensor 210 and the doorlock switch 220 and the other end of the wire 300 may pass the throughhole 23 to the hinge assembly 100 and then to the first electronic part.As such, the first and second electronic parts may be connected by thewire 300 passing through the hinge assembly 100, which may prevent mostof the wire 300 from being exposed to the outside and thus from harmingthe aesthetic appearance of the washing machine 1. Details of how thewire 300 passes through the hinge assembly 100 will be described later.

FIG. 6 shows a hinge assembly-coupled structure of a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 is anexploded view of a hinge assembly of a washing machine, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of thehinge assembly of the washing machine angled differently from that ofFIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9shows a process of coupling a hinge assembly and a cabinet of a washingmachine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the hinge assembly 100 may include a firstbracket 110, a second bracket 120, and a link unit 130.

The first bracket 110 may be combined with the cabinet 10. The secondbracket 120 may be combined with the door 20. The link unit 130 may bepivotally coupled to each of the first bracket 110 and the secondbracket 120. In other words, the link unit 130 may be arranged toconnect the gap between the first bracket 110 and the second bracket120, thus allowing the door 20 to pivot forward from the cabinet 10.

The first bracket 110 may be combined through the hinge assemblyinstallation part 19 formed on the front frame 11 of the cabinet 10.

The hinge assembly installation part 19 may be arranged on one side ofthe door contact 17. The hinge assembly installation part 19 may includea first installation part 19 a and a second installation part 19 b. Thefirst installation part 19 a may be formed for the link unit 130 topenetrate. The second installation part 19 b may be formed for the firstbracket 110 to be coupled and fixed thereto.

It is preferable for the first installation part 19 a to be formed in asize equal to or larger than the size of the link unit 130 in order forthe link unit 130 to penetrate and pivot.

The second installation part 19 b may be arranged for the first bracket110 to be coupled with the front frame 11, and may be formed on each ofthe top side and the bottom side of the first installation part 19 a.The second installation part 19 b may have the form of a hole.

The first bracket 110 may include an assembly hole 111. A screw Bpassing through the second installation part 19 b and the assembly hole111 may fix the first bracket 110 to the front frame 11.

The first bracket 110 may further include a first shaft hole 112 coupledto the first shaft 140.

The second bracket 120 may include a door supporter 121. The secondbracket 120 may support the door 20 by the door supporter 121 combinedwith the door frame 21.

The second bracket 120 may further include a second shaft hole 122. Thesecond shaft 150 may be coupled to the second shaft hole 122 topivotally support the door 20.

The link unit 130 may include a first coupling hole 131 and a secondcoupling hole 132. The first coupling hole 131 may be formed at one endof the link unit 130 for the first shaft 140 to be combined therewith.The second coupling hole 132 may be formed at another end of the linkunit 130 for the second shaft 150 to be combined therewith. The one endof the link unit 130 may be connected with the first bracket 110 by thefirst shaft 140, and the other end of the link unit 130 may be connectedwith the second bracket 120 by the second shaft 150.

The link unit 130 may further include a wire guide 133. The wire guide133 may be formed in the link unit 130 for the wire 300 to be arrangedalong at least a part of the link unit 130. In other words, the wireguide 133 may be concavely formed along a side of the link unit 130 forthe wire 300 to be inserted thereto. Specifically, the wire guide 133may be concavely formed along the bottom side of the link unit 130.

The link unit 130 may further include a link unit cover 190. The linkunit cover 190 may be detachably combined with the link unit 130 for thewire 300 to be arranged between the link unit cover 190 and the linkunit 130. That is, the link unit cover 190 may be detachably combinedwith the wire guide 133. The link unit cover 190 may play a role toprevent foreign materials from being brought into the wire guide 133.Furthermore, the link unit cover 190 may serve to prevent the wire 300inserted to the wire guide 133 from being exposed to the outside. Thelink unit cover 190 may be detachably combined with the wire guide 133to form a portion of the exterior of the link unit 130. As such, withthe link unit cover 190 to be detachably combined with the wire guide133, the link unit cover 190 may be removed in the process of insertingthe wire 300 to the wire guide 133, thereby improving the workingefficiency, and the link unit cover 190 may be coupled to the wire guide133 once the wire 300 is inserted to the wire guide 133, therebyenabling the wire 300 to be stably received in the wire receiving space400.

The link unit cover 190 may include a recessed part 191. The recessedpart 191 may be formed on a side of the link unit cover 190.Specifically, the recessed part 191 may be formed on a side of the linkunit cover 190 that faces the wire guide 133. The recessed part 191 mayform a wire receiver to receive the wire 300 together with the wireguide 133 once the link unit cover 190 is coupled to the wire guide 133.The recessed part 191 may be continuously formed on a side of the linkunit cover 190 that faces the wire guide 133 to correspond to the wireguide 133.

The link unit cover 190 may further include couplers 192, 193. Thecouplers 192, 193 may be formed at an end of the link unit cover 190.The couplers 192, 193 may be formed on the link unit cover 190 to extendupwards. The couplers 192,193 may include a first coupler 192 and asecond coupler 193. The first and second couplers 192 and 193 may faceeach other with a wire outlet 138 between them. The extents to which thefirst and second couplers 192 and 193 extend upwards may differ. Thefirst coupler 192 may face the inner wall of the link unit 130, and thesecond coupler 193 may face the outer wall of the link unit 130. Whenthe hinge assembly 100 is installed between the door 20 and the cabinet10, the outer wall of the link unit 130 may be directed to the innerside of the cabinet 10. From another perspective, the outer wall of thelink unit 130 may face the opening 16 or the door glass 22. When thehinge assembly 100 is installed between the door 20 and the cabinet 10,the inner wall of the link unit 130 may be directed to the outer side ofthe cabinet 10. In the first coupler 192, there may be a first fixinghole 194 formed to be coupled with a first fixing protrusion 134 formedon the inner wall of the link unit 130. In the second coupler 193, theremay be a second fixing hole 195 formed to be coupled with a secondfixing protrusion 135 formed on the outer wall of the link unit 130. Thelink unit cover 190 may be combined with the link unit 130 to cover thewire guide 133 by the couplers 192, 193. Firstly, the second fixingprotrusion 135 of the link unit 130 is caught in the second fixing hole195 of the second coupler 193, and secondly, the first fixing protrusion134 of the link unit 130 is fit into the first fixing hole 194 of thefirst coupler 192.

The link unit cover 190 may further include a coupling protrusion 196.The coupling protrusion 196 enables the link unit cover 190 to be morestably combined with the link unit 130. The coupling protrusion 196 maybe formed at another end of the link unit cover 190. The couplingprotrusion 196 may be formed at another end of the link unit cover 190near a wire inlet 137. The coupling protrusion 196 may be combined withthe coupling hole 136 formed on the inner wall of the link unit 130.Specifically, the coupling protrusion 196 may be fit into the couplinghole 136.

The link unit cover 190 may be stably combined with the link unit 130 bythe coupling between the coupling protrusion 196 and the coupling hole136, the coupling between the first fixing protrusion 134 and the firstfixing hole 194, and the coupling between the second fixing protrusion135 and the second fixing hole 195.

The link unit 130 may further include the wire inlet 137. The wire inlet137 may be formed to be adjacent to the second bracket 120 in order forthe wire 300 passing through the through hole 23 to be brought into thewire guide 133, i. e., to be inserted to the wire guide 133. The linkunit cover 190 may be combined with the wire guide 133 such that aportion of the wire guide 133 adjacent to the second bracket 120 isopened, and the wire inlet 137 may be formed in the opened portion ofthe wire guide 133.

The link unit 130 may further include the wire outlet 138. The wireoutlet 138 may be formed on a side of the link unit cover 190 near thefirst bracket 110. The wire outlet 138 may be formed between the firstcoupler 192 and the second coupler 193. The wire 300 inserted to thewire guide 133 through the wire inlet 137 may be pulled out of the wirereceiving space 400 through the wire outlet 138.

A second bracket installation part 24 may be formed on the door frame 21of the door 20 for installation of the second bracket 120. Specifically,the second bracket installation part 24 may be formed on the back faceof the door frame 21 facing the opening 16.

The hinge assembly 100 may further include a plurality of shafts 140,150. The plurality of shafts 140, 150 may include the first shaftconnecting the first bracket 110 and one end of the link unit 130 andthe second shaft 150 connecting the second bracket 120 and the other endof the link unit 130. The link unit 130 may further include the firstcoupling hole 131 coupled with the first shaft 140 and the secondcoupling hole 132 coupled with the second shaft 150.

The door 20 may pivot on the first shaft 140 and the second shaft 150.

The door 20 is able to open or close the opening 16 by pivoting forwardand backward from the opening 16 by the link unit 130 that moveshorizontally around the first shaft 140 of the hinge assembly 100.

The hinge assembly 100 may further include fixing rings 181, 182. Thefixing rings 181, 182 may be coupled to at least one of the first shaft140 and the second shaft 150 to prevent separation of the at least ofthe first shaft 140 and the second shaft 150. Preferably, the fixingrings 181, 182 may include the first fixing ring 181 coupled with thefirst shaft 140 and the second fixing ring 182 coupled with the secondshaft 150.

The first fixing ring 181 may be coupled to a lower portion of the firstshaft 140 to prevent separation of the first shaft 140 passing a shaftcoupling hole 172 of a reinforcing member 170, the first shaft hole 112of the first bracket 110, and the first coupling hole 131 of the linkunit 130. Specifically, a stopper 141 formed in the upper portion of thefirst shaft 140 and the first fixing ring 181 coupled to a lower portionof the first shaft 140 may prevent the first shaft from being separatedfrom the shaft coupling hole 172 of the reinforcing member 170, thefirst shaft hole 112 of the first bracket 110, and the first couplinghole 131 of the link unit 130.

The second fixing ring 182 may be coupled to a middle portion of thesecond shaft 150 to prevent separation of the second shaft 150 passingthe second shaft hole 122 of the second bracket 120 and the secondcoupling hole 132 of the link unit 130. The second fixing ring 182 maybe coupled to a middle portion of the second shaft 150 instead of alower portion of the second shaft 150 to prevent the wire 300 insertedto the wire inlet 137 from being damaged by friction with the secondfixing ring 182. A stopper 151 formed in the upper portion of the secondshaft 150 and the second fixing ring 182 coupled to a middle portion ofthe second shaft 150 may prevent the second shaft 150 from beingseparated from the second shaft hole 122 of the second bracket 120 andthe second coupling hole 132 of the link unit 130. A coupling positionof the first fixing ring 181 for the first shaft 140 and a couplingposition of the second fixing ring 182 for the second shaft 150 may notbe limited to the above examples but may be variously changed.

The hinge assembly 100 may further include an elastic member 160. Theelastic member 160 may be provided on the outer side of the first shaft140 to enclose the first shaft 140. The elastic member 160 may bearranged to guide the motion of the link unit 130 by supporting the gapbetween the first shaft 140 and the link unit 130. The elastic member160 may include a spring.

The hinge assembly 100 may further include the reinforcing member 170.The reinforcing member 170 may be arranged on the first shaft 140 tosupport the gap between the cabinet 10 and the hinge assembly 100.

The reinforcing member 170 is pivotally coupled to the first shaft 140of the hinge assembly 100 at one end, and is supported and fixed by therear face 11 a of the cabinet 10.

The reinforcing member 170 may include a body 171, a first shaft throughhole 23 formed at an end of the body 171 for the first shaft 140 topenetrate, and a fixing part 173 formed at the other end of the body 171to be fixed to the cabinet 10.

A supporting rib 174 may be formed on the outside of the body 171 tomake better contact with the rear face 11 a of the cabinet 10. Thesupporting rib 174 may reinforce strength of the reinforcing member 170.

The fixing part 173 of the reinforcing member 170 may be formed at anend of the body 171, and may be fixed by a fixing member 177 such as abolt passing through a fixing hole 11 b formed on the front frame 11 ofthe cabinet 10.

Although an example of the fixing part 173 of the reinforcing member 170fixed to the cabinet 10 by the fixing member 177 passing through thefixing hole 11 b is illustrated, how to fix the fixing part 173 is notlimited thereto. The fixing part 173 of the reinforcing member 170 maybe fixed in a method such as screwing, riveting, soldering, cocking,thermosetting, etc.

The reinforcing member 170 may be provided in the top and bottomportions of the first shaft 140 as a pair. Separation and removal of thereinforcing member 170 may be prevented by the stopper 141 formed in anupper portion of the first shaft 140 and the first fixing ring 181coupled in a lower portion of the first shaft 140.

The stopper 141 formed on the first shaft 140 may have a form thatprotrudes to the outer direction or to the radial direction of the firstshaft 140, and the stopper 151 formed on the second shaft 150 may have aform that protrudes to the outer direction or to the radial direction ofthe second shaft 150.

The washing machine 1 may further include a protective member 90 coupledto at least one of the wire inlet 137 and the wire outlet 138 whileenclosing the wire 300 to prevent snapping of the wire 300. Theprotective member 90 may have an elastic material. For example, theprotective member 90 may be formed of at least one of rubber andsilicon.

The washing machine 1 may further include the wire receiving space 400.The wire receiving space 400 may be provided between the cabinet 10 andthe door 20 to receive at least a part of the wire 300. The wirereceiving space 400 may be located in the hinge assembly 100. Therecessed part 191 of the link unit cover 190 may form the wire receivingspace 400 together with the wire guide 133.

FIG. 10 shows wires inserted to a hinge assembly in a washing machine,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 11 showswires passing a through hole of the door of a washing machine, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first bracket 110 isomitted in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the wire 300 may pass the hinge assembly100 to connect the first and second electronic parts. The wire 300 maypenetrate the link unit 130 to connect the first and second electronicparts.

The wire 300 connected to the second electronic part equipped in thedoor 20 at one end is inserted to the hinge assembly 100 after passingthe through hole 23 formed on the rear side of the door 20.Specifically, the wire 300 passing the through hole 23 is connected tothe first electronic part arranged in the cabinet 10 through the wireguide 133 formed in the link unit 130. The wire 300 inserted to the wireguide 133 through the wire inlet 137 is pulled out of the hinge assembly100 through the wire outlet 138.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a hinge assembly of a washing machine,according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. What areoverlapped with FIGS. 1 to 11 will be omitted in the followingdescription.

As shown in FIG. 12, the wire 300 may be received between the link unit130 and link unit cover 190. In other words, the wire 300 may bereceived in a wire receiving space 900. The recessed part 191 (see FIG.7) of the link unit cover 190 may form the wire receiving space 900together with one side, preferably, the bottom side of the link unit130. The side of the link unit 130 forming the wire receiving space 900with the recessed part 191 of the link unit cover 190 may be a flatplane. In other words, there is no recess such as the wire guide 133(see FIG. 8) formed on the side of the link unit 130 that forms the wirereceiving space 900 with the recessed part 191 of the link unit cover190. In this case, the wire 300 received in the wire receiving space 900may be settled in the recessed part 191 of the link unit cover 190.

While a case where the wire 300 passes the link unit 130 of the hingeassembly 100 in the process of connecting the second electronic partplaced outside the cabinet 10 and the first electronic part placedinside the cabinet 10 is focused in the above description, it is alsopossible for the wire 300 to pass at least one element of the hingeassembly 100 to connect the first and second electronic parts.

Several embodiments have been described above, but a person of ordinaryskill in the art will understand and appreciate that variousmodifications can be made without departing the scope of the presentdisclosure. Thus, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in theart that the true scope of technical protection is only defined by thefollowing claims.

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet equipped with a firstelectronic part therein and having an opening to put in laundry; a doorequipped with a second electronic part therein and configured to open orclose the opening; a hinge assembly configured to pivotally combine thedoor with the cabinet; and a wire configured to pass the hinge assemblyto electrically connect the first electronic part and the secondelectronic part.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the wire isconfigured to penetrate the hinge assembly to connect the firstelectronic part and the second electronic part.
 3. The washing machineof claim 1, wherein: the door further comprises a back plane facing theopening and having a through hole, and a first end of the wire isconnected to the second electronic part, and a second end of the wire isconnected to the first electronic part after passing the through holeand the hinge assembly.
 4. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein: thehinge assembly comprises: a first bracket coupled to the cabinet; asecond bracket coupled to the door; and a link unit configured topivotally connect the first bracket and the second bracket, the wire isconfigured to pass through the link unit to connect the first electronicpart and the second electronic part.
 5. The washing machine of claim 4,wherein the link unit comprises a wire guide recessed along a side ofthe link unit for the wire to be inserted thereto.
 6. The washingmachine of claim 5, wherein the link unit further comprises a link unitcover detachably coupled to the wire guide to prevent foreign materialsfrom being brought into the wire guide.
 7. The washing machine of claim6, wherein: the link unit cover has a recessed part formed on one side,and the recessed part is configured to form a wire receiver to receivethe wire with the wire guide once the link unit cover is coupled to thewire guide.
 8. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein: the door furthercomprises a back plane facing the opening and having a through hole, andthe link unit further comprises a wire inlet located adjacent to thesecond bracket for the wire to be inserted to the wire guide afterpassing the through hole.
 9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein:the link unit cover is coupled to the wire guide such that a portion ofthe wire guide adjacent to the second bracket is opened, and the wireinlet is formed in the opened portion of the wire guide.
 10. The washingmachine of claim 8, wherein the link unit further comprises a wireoutlet formed on a side of the link unit cover adjacent to the firstbracket and provided to pull out the wire inserted to the wire guide.11. The washing machine of claim 10, further comprising a protectivemember coupled to at least one of the wire inlet and the wire outletwhile enclosing the wire to prevent snapping of the wire.
 12. Thewashing machine of claim 11, wherein the protective member has anelastic material.
 13. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the doorhas a laundry inlet formed thereon to communicate with the opening, andfurther comprising a secondary door installed to open or close thelaundry inlet.
 14. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the secondelectronic part comprises at least one of: an open/close detectionsensor configured to detect whether the secondary door is opened orclosed, and a door lock switch configured to control whether to lock thesecondary door.
 15. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the hingeassembly comprises: a first shaft configured to connect the firstbracket and a first end of the link unit; and a second shaft configuredto connect the second bracket and a second end of the link unit.